Exploration and Conquest of the Americas

Reasons for Exploration: Gold

Spice trade controlled by Italians & Ottoman Turks

Slave trade controlled by North African Muslims

Copyright 2000, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning

Reasons for Exploration: GodThe Reconquista ended with the fall of Granada in Jan. 1492Conquest & conversion of Indians seen as extensionHoped to join forces with mythical Kingdom of Prester John & renew Crusades

Queen Isabella

Reasons for Exploration: Glory & technological advances

Desire to win fame & fortune

Inspired in part by Renaissance humanism

Technological advances:Compass, astrolabe & quadrant

Better portaline maps

Caravel – 1st ship capable of tacking against the wind

Portuguese caravel

The Portuguese ExplorersEst. sugar colonies in Madeira (1420), Azores (1427), Cape Verde Islands (1460) & Saõ Tomé (1470)

Bartholomew Diaz rounded Cape of Good Hope in 1488

Vasco da Gama led successful expedition to India, 1497-99

Rejected Columbus because they knew his calculations were way off – under-estimated circumference

Vasco da Gama Church

Christopher Columbus

Columbus sailed west in Aug. 1492 – reached Bahamas on Oct. 12

Explored Cuba & Hispaniola, then returned to Portugal March 4, 1493

Made 3 more voyages

Died convinced he had been to Asia 4 times

The Spanish ExplorersChristopher Columbus sailed west in Aug. 1492, exploring CaribbeanTreaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided world between Spain (west) & Portugal (east)Amerigo Vespucci first to call it a new continentPedro Alvarez Cabral claimed Brazil for Portugal in 1500Vasco Nuñez de Balboa crossed Panama in 1513 & sees Pacific

The Conquistadores

Adelantados – private contractors hired by King

Hernan Cortes conquered Mexican Empire (Aztecs), 1519-21

Young minor nobleman

Led revolt by subject tribes who resented tribute & human sacrifices

Francisco Pizzaro conquered Inca, 1531-32

Took advantage of civil war

Spread smallpox deliberately

Hernan Cortes

Francisco Pizzaro

The Spanish EmpireViceroys ruled New Spain & Peru on King’s behalf

Each divided into provincesGovernors & audencias (courts) ruled provinces

Haciendas = large plantations growing cash crops (sugar, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, etc.)Mines were principle source of wealth for Spain

16 million kg. entered Spain between 1503-1650Crown kept 1/5 (quinto)Flowed primarily to Spanish Netherlands

Slave LaborEncomienda = grant of Indian labor to mine & hacienda ownersRepartimiento = requirement that Indians work so many days for SpanishModeled on feudalism, but no protection for workersWhen Indians died off, replaced by Africans